A former Alabama prosecutor is accused of attempting to poison her husband with fentanyl on multiple occasions, including while out on bail for previous charges. Sara Baker, 75, faces eleven counts, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, domestic violence, elder abuse, and drug-related offenses.
Prosecutors allege Baker laced her husband, James Doyle Baker,'s food and drink with fentanyl at least three times in September of last year. She was arrested in November and subsequently suspended from the Alabama Bar Association. After posting a $400,000 bond, she pleaded not guilty.
In a court hearing on Friday, prosecutors accused Baker of violating the terms of her bond by visiting her husband and allegedly attempting to poison his medicine. According to court documents, on June 11, Baker contacted one of her husband's caregivers and requested an empty medicine bottle from the residence. Eight days later, she allegedly returned the bottle, contained in a black bag, with instructions for the caregiver to place it in a safe inside the home. The caregiver reported the request to law enforcement, who later obtained a search warrant for the bottle. Inside, police reportedly found 12 grams of a purple powder that tested positive for fentanyl.
Despite the allegations, James Doyle Baker has publicly supported his wife, stating in court that she had adhered to her release conditions and that he had pleaded with authorities to see her. He confirmed that they had been married for 29 years, with a Facebook post from August of last year indicating their anniversary.
Circuit Judge Gregory Williams ruled that Baker had violated her bond, citing her actions as an attempt to introduce a significant amount of fentanyl into her husband's home, which he deemed alarming given the existing charges. He stated that her continued release posed a risk to public safety.
Baker was booked into Cullman County Jail following the hearing. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges, citing mental disease or defect, and the judge has ordered psychological testing. Baker, a former Assistant District Attorney for Cullman County, established her own practice in 2004, specializing in criminal defense, divorce, and custody law.
Her husband is a former Auburn University football player who suffered a stroke a few years ago, leaving Baker as his sole caregiver. The couple has at least one daughter and two grandchildren.
